Lubricating system for cream separators



Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,394

0. A. ROBERTSON LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR CREAM SEPARATORS 4 Filed Nov. 14. 1921 I I I UNITED STATES FFICE.

CHARLES A. ROBERTSON, F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, MIG-NOR, TO MONTGOMERY I WARD do 00., 1180., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

IIUBRIOA'I'ING SYSTEM-FOB CREAM SEPARATOBS.

Application filedllbvember 14, 1921. Serial No. 515,173.

This invention relates to separators of the centrifugal type and pertains particuto such devices designed for the separation of cream. Experience has proved that proper lubrication is of the greatest importance in such machines,'be cause of the high rate of speed at which they are operated and the great centrifugal force developed. Inas1 -uch as the o eration of such machines is conducted for t e most part by persons who are inexpert in mechanics, it

is of great importance that the lubricating systems be automatic and substantially foolroof. The requirement for thorough lurication is of particular importance in machines which are mechanically driven, as by electrically o erated means. The present invention is intended primarily for machines of this type.

The general urpose of the invention is the provision 0 an improved construction for centrifugal separators wherein means is rovide'd for thorou h and continuous lurication of the wor ing parts incident to operation of the machine. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved separator construction which includes electric driving means as a constituent part of the assembly, to-

w gether} with roper lubricating means so operating and fouling of the electrical means by the lubricant.

An additional object of the invention is he the provision of a separator construction including a lubricating mechanism for applying lubricant to a series of bearings therein and in which the lubricant handling portions are accessible for cleaning WlthOlllf e0 requiring dismantling of the'separator.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the-' appended claims or obvious upon an understanding of the invention to from the present disclosure. In thedrawing forming a part of this specification I have disclosed, for the purpose of illustration merely, one form in which the invention may be incorporated, to but inasmuch as it is susceptible of embodiment in a considerable variety of structures, it is to be understood that this disarranged as to prevent the closure is not to be given the efiect of limiting the invention short of its true and most comprehensive scope in the art.

The figure is a longitudinal section of y the pedestal of a cream separator, the same being taken on a diameter thereof.

The general nature of my invention is the provision of a construction wherein the supporting pedestal of the cream separator is formed as a hollow member which affords a housing for an electric motor dis osed in the lower portion 'of the pedesta and a thereto from the'motor. In the lower portion of the pedestal is formed a lubricant chamber in association with which is a is o erated bg lea s from t in from which receptacle t e lubricant is le through the upper bearings until it is caught b a basin above the motor, whence i; is con ucted back to the lubricant-chamr. 1 The invention will be understood more in detail by reference to the accompanying drawing in which the numeral 1 designates a supporting base formed as a part of a lower pedestal section which includes the barrel portion 2 formed integrally on said base. An intermediate section 4 of dylindrical or frusto-conical form is supported on the barrel portion 2, terminating in an end wall 5 with a co-axial collar extension 6 of reduced diameter. The separator bowlchamher 7 is a concave casting. which is supported on the intermediate section, having an axial aperture to receive the collar 6. This chamber is of proper size and form to receive. within it and partially house the separator bowl. which may be of any of the Well known forms. In the collar 6 is supported I a neck bearing 8 in which' the separating bowl spindle 9 is journalled, the upper extremity of said spindle extending into the chamber 7. The neck bearing 8 has a laterally extending top flange 10 which supports an oil ring 11 about the spindle 9. The intermediate section 4 is formed with a partition member 12 which divides it into two compartments, the upper face of said partition member being concave, and said partition member forming a support for a centrally disposed bearing 14 arranged co-axially with the neck hearing 8. The bottom section of the pedestal is cored to provide a lubricant chamber 15 which surrounds a central boss 16,- the latter forming a mounting for the bottom bearing 17 supported inalignment with the bearings 14 and 8. The chamber 15 is closed off from the barrel portion 2 by a cover late 18. The bearing 17 extends throug the bottom wall portion of the base member, and demountably secured to the bottom of the base member is a pump housing 19 disposed to cover the lower end of the bearing 17. This housing is formed to provide a central pump chamber below the end of the bearing 17, which chamber has communication with the lubricant chamber 18 through a channel 20. The housing 19 also affords a lateral channel 21 leading from the ump chamber, and has a central downwardly extending boss 22 which is internally threaded to receive the adflfit able bearing seat 24 which supports the end bearing 25. A cap 26 covers the lower end of the bearing seat 24 and forms a closure for the boss 22. In the bearings 17 and 14 is 'journalled the shaft 27 of the motor, which includes the armature 28 and the field elements 29. The latter are supported on the wall of the barrel portion 2 1n association with the armature coils. The motor shaft also carries a commutator ring 30 and a fan 31, which is disposed below the motor ele ments. The lower extremity of the shaft 27 is formed as a square extension 32 which seats against the end bearing 25. Upon said square extension is mounted the impeller '34 which operates in the pump housing in the fashion of a rotary pump. An oil ipe 35 leads from the passage 21 up throug an opening 36 in the chamber 7 and discharges within the oil ring 11. Upon the partition member 12 is mounted an oil basin 37 havingthe upwar ly fiarin flange 38 and provided with an I pertured central boss 39 affording a passage for the armature shaft. Upon said shaft above said boss and extending beyond the lateral limits thereof,

- ing 44 into the lubricant cham is an upwardly convex shield 40. The basin has an internal cavity affording a receptacle disposed under the bearing 14, which receptacle has an outlet 41 leading to a return pipe 42 which dischargesthrou h an openber 15,. A number of apertures 45 in the barrel portion 2 below the fan 31 afford passage f r ingress of air, while lateral apertures 46 dis osed above the motor elements afford outl et passages. A ring 47 supported on the basin member 37 affords a support for the brushes '48 which are arranged for cobushing 49, while a tap 50 provides a drainage opening for the lubricant chamber 15.

In the operation of the device, the lubricant chamber 15 being filled with a suitable fluid lubricant, upon energization of the motor, which is effective to rotate the shaft 27 and the elements driven thereby, the oil finding its way from the chamber 15 into the pump chamber will be impelled by the impeller 34 through the passage 21 and up through the pipe 35 into the oil ring 11.

Thence it finds its way through the bearing 8 alongside the spindle 9, providing the proper lubrication for rotative movement of these parts. The oil which thus passes into the cavity of the intermediate section 4 is ultimately caught on the concave upper surface of the partition member 12 and conducted toward the center thereof about the bearing 14. Here some of the oil becomes effective to lubricate the driving connectionv between the shaft and the spindle 9, While most of the oil finds egress through the bearing 14 about the shaft 27, affording the proper lubrication for these parts. From the barrel 14 the oil is discharged against the convex face of the shield 40 which deflects it away from the central opening of the boss 39 and discharges it into the cavity of the oil basin 37. From thisbasin the oil is conducted through the outlet 41 into the return pipe 42 and discharged into the lubricant chamber 15. Some of the oil which passes into the pump chamber through the channel, 20 becomes effective upon the portion of the shaft 27 in the bearing 17 to lubricate these parts, while sufficient of the oil passes on into the end bearing seat 24 to submerge the bearing 25 and provide the desired lubrication there. Air drawn in through apertures 45 by the fan 31 is circulated about the basin 37, expelling heated air from the interior of the pedestal, and exercising a cooling influence on lubricant passing throu h the basin.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the construction provides a very simple and compact arrangement for the lubrication of a mechanism of this ty e, which insures thorough circulation of t e lubricant to all lSO bearings and wear surfaces incident'to the operation of the machine, said circulation of the lubricant being automatically maintained so long as the machine is running. The construction, moreover, provides a positive safeguard against the electrical apparatus being fouled by the lubricant, as all the oil circulated through the bearings above it is effectively caught and conducted away without reaching the motor. parts. The mechanism is thus adapted to miantain itself in efiicient working condition, and requires no supervision on the part of the operator other than to see that the proper quantity of lubricant is supplied to the chamber 15 and that worn out lubricant is removed and replaced with good oil at proper intervals.

By virtue of the accessibility of the pump 2Q housing 19 it may be dismounted from the till pedestal to permit cleaning of the pump chamber and replacement of the impeller and the end bearin 25, without requiring any dismantling o the separator mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of an upright hollow pedestal affording a ';lubricant chamber 1h its lower portion, and providing supports for bearings at different elevations, a receptacle for retaining lubricant about the bearing surfaces of an upper bearing, a partition member dividing the pedestal intov upper and lower compartments below said bearing, said partition being formed to conduct lubricant to a second bearing, a shaft journaled in the bearin s, a basin aflixed to the pedestal below sai second bearing'for reception of lubricant therefrom, a conduit for conducting lubricant laterally away from said basin and shaft to the lubricant chamber, a conduit for conducting lubricant from the lubricant chamber to the receptacle, and means operable b the shaft for forcing lubricant from t e chamber through sald last mentioned conduit.

2. In a' machine of the class described, the combination of a housing affording an upper-compartment and a lower compartment, an u per. bearing having its lower end entering't e upper compartment, a lower bearing having 1ts upper end entering the upper compartment, shaift portions jourr nalled in said bearings, a lubricant receptacle associated with the upper bearing in position to feed lubricant thereto, means arranged to conduct lubricant discharged from the upper bearing to the lower bearing, a

deflecting shield mounted on the shaft dournalled in said lower bearing below the atter, a basin disposed to receive lubricant from said shield, a lubricant chamben'means for conducting lubricant from said basin to said chamber, and means for conducting lubricant from said chamber to said receptacle.

3. In a machine of the class'described, the combination with a base member having a lubricant chamber, of a bearing arranged in said base member, a shaft mounted in said bearing, an upper bearing for said shaft, a housing arranged at the under side of the base member and including a pump chamber in communication with the bearing of the base memberand with the lubricant chamber, an end bearing carried by said housing in axial alignment with said shaft for supporting the lower end of the latter, an impeller arranged in said pump chamber and connected to the shaft for; operation thereby, and connections between the pump chamber and the upper bearing and the latter and the lubricant chamber for circulation of the lubricant.

4. In a machine of the' class described, the combination with a base memberhaving a lubricant chamber, of a bearing arranged in said base member, a .shaft mounted in said bearing, an upper bearing for said: shaft, a housing arranged at the under side of the base member and including a'pump chamber, said base being port for affording communication between said lubricant chamber, said shaft bearing, and said pum chamber, an end bearing carried b. sai housing in axial alignment with sai shaft for supporting the lower end of the latter, an impeller arranged in said pump chamber and connected to the shaft for operation thereby, and connections between the pump chamberand the u per a lubricant chamber, of a bearing arrange in said base member, a shaft mounted in said bearing, an up er bearmg for said shaft, a housing detac ably connected at the under side of the base member and including a pump chamber, the base member being provided with a port for communication with the lubricant chamber, the shaft bearing, and the pump chamber, an end bearing carried by said housing in axial alignment with said shaft,.an impeller arranged in said pum. chamber and con nected to the shaft or operation thereby, a conduit connected to the pump chamber and the upper bearing for feedin the lubricant to t e upper bearing, an a second conduit in communication with the upper bearing and with the lubricant chamber for conducting the lubricant from the upper bearing back to the lubricant chamber.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pedestal having a base portion and a hollow shaft portion, a partition dividing the shaft portion into upper and lbwer com artments, a bearingon said partition, a s aft journaled in said bearing and extending into the upper compartment, operating mechanism in the lower compartment for driving said shaft, a basin covering the lower end of said bearing and depending into the lower compartment, the base being formed to provide a lubricating mac-nee chamber, means for conducting lubricant fromisaid chamber to the bearing for discharge into the basin, and a fan operable in the lower compartment by said mechanism to circulate air about the basin.

in vtestimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. I I

CHARLES A. ROBERTSGN, 

